UK / Europe & Central Asia

New York, June 17, 2022–In response to British Home Secretary Priti Patel’s decision on Friday to approve a U.S. request to extradite Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The extradition of Julian Assange to the United States to face trial on charges under the…

Berlin, March 28, 2022 — British authorities must immediately explain the reason for their detention and questioning of journalist Martin Banks, and guarantee the protection of his journalistic sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On February 26, U.K. border police at the Eurotunnel train terminal in Calais, France, detained Banks for about six…

New York, March 14, 2022 — In response to the U.K. Supreme Court’s announcement Monday refusing an appeal by Julian Assange to prevent his extradition to the United States, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We are deeply disappointed that the U.K. Supreme Court has denied the latest attempt by WikiLeaks founder…

New York, January 24, 2022 – The Committee to Protect Journalists cautiously welcomed a British court’s decision on Monday allowing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to apply to appeal against a lower court’s ruling that he could be extradited to face criminal charges in the United States. “We are glad that Julian Assange will be allowed…

The United Kingdom moved a step closer to regulating social media in December when a parliamentary committee recommended major changes to the country’s Online Safety Bill so as to hold internet service providers responsible for material published on their platforms. “We need to call time on the Wild West online,” said committee chair Damian Collins….

New York, December 10, 2021–The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed deep disappointment at a British court’s decision to uphold the United States Justice Department’s appeal to extradite Julian Assange, which allows the U.S. to continue pursuing the extradition of the WikiLeaks founder, according to news reports.  “On the same day the Nobel Peace Prize…

Berlin, September 14, 2021 — United Kingdom authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the threats against journalist Phillip Norton and his crew and ensure their safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 28, demonstrators protesting the government’s measures to curb COVID-19 in Scarborough, a resort town on England’s North…

Washington, D.C., August 12, 2021 — In response to Britain’s High Court decision yesterday to allow the United States government to expand its appeal to extradite Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The ongoing drive by the United States to extradite Julian Assange and prosecute him under the…

The U.K. government emphasized press freedom this month when it published the draft online safety bill for social media companies, pledging that the bill would protect both “citizen journalism” and “recognized news publishers” from censorship. Vocal segments of the media not only welcomed the legislation, but actively campaigned for it. When Oliver Dowden, secretary of…

On February 12, 2021, graffiti painted by unidentified people appeared at three locations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, featuring a gun crosshair and the name of Patricia Devlin, a reporter for the Irish newspaper Sunday World, according to a report by her employer and Devlin, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Police have opened an…